Belfast Maskers’ ‘Boys From Swanville’ a hit before lights, fireworks of weekend premiere

BELFAST – Even the rehearsals for this weekend’s premiere of the Belfast Maskers’ original show “The Boys From Swanville” have been drawing a crowd.

The show features cover tunes of some of the best known rock, blues, county, jazz and Latin music and curious onlookers have been taking things in the past few nights while the band stretched its chops.

“That’s the exciting thing,” director Tobin Malone said Tuesday. “We’ve taken this parking lot and turned it into a venue. People have been driving down and watching like it was a drive-in or something.”

“The Boys From Swanville” kicks off the first of its three successive weekend runs at the Maskers Front Street theater at 8:30 p.m. Friday. The curtain will rise for a second show at 11 p.m.

“The Boys From Swanville” was conceived by Malone as a two-act play centered around a carpenter from Swanville named Eben and the trouble he gets into in a local bar. A number of distinct yet charming characters populate the show, including Eban’s wife Edna Mae and Raelene Robbins, a single mother who works in telemarketing to pay the bills.

The part of Eben is played by John Gelsinger, well-known Belfast musician and vocalist. Edna Mae is played by Kathleen O’Connor, a Belfast singer-songwriter, and Raelene Robbins is played by national touring recording artist Laurie Geltman, who resides in Rockland.

The plot, which revolves around Eben, his friends and family, uses 20 covers of popular songs to tell its story. The cast has 36 members. Ruth Gelsinger is the musical director and Susan Simmons of Rockland is the choreographer.

This show represents a major undertaking for the Maskers, including the rental of a custom-designed stage and roof. A light show and pyrotechnics will complement the music and sound. Maskers president Jerry Savitz estimated that production costs would run about $50,000.

“This is a big production,” Savitz said. “Finding the electrical power just to power this thing has been quite an adventure. People have been working 12-to-15-hour days putting this thing together. It’s a lot of work and most all are volunteers.”

Savitz gleamed with joy as he talked about having to acquire a state license for the show’s pyrotechnics.

“It’s something I’ve wanted since I was 5 years old and now I’ve finally got it,” he said of the license to touch off explosives legally.

Malone said that pickup trucks and snowmobiles are among the props used in the show. A professional stunt driver will play a role in the production.

The outdoor theater will seat 300 and beer and refreshments will be sold during performances. The show will run on successive Friday and Saturday nights beginning July 6-7. Shows will begin at 8:30 and 11 p.m. Admission to the early show is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Admission to the late show is $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

“This may be the first show of its kind that uses cover tunes to tell a story,” Malone said. “We don’t know of anybody who has ever tried that.”